Tag Archives: crane

In the wake of a pair of recent bird strikes involving planes in the New York area, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is looking to rein in the flying nuisance responsible. She’s proposing a new measure that would make it easier for the Department of Agriculture to round up and kill Canada geese on federal land at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge near Kennedy Airport. Wildlife advocates oppose the idea. The birds can shatter windshields, dent fuselages and ruin engines. Read More: NY1

Jackson Heights BID Delivers On Promise, Merchants Say

The Jackson Heights shopping strip is looking a lot prettier these days with news trees, benches and cleaner streets. It’s a far cry from what the 82nd Street business improvement district or BID used to look like. Now it’s got a new look, new leadership and a new name. It’s now called the 82nd Street partnership and business owners appear to like it. Retail businesses are members of the BID and many of the store owners had complained to local leaders that under the old Business Improvement District there wasn’t a lot of improvement. Read More: NY1

Power line from Quebec to Astoria draws mixed reviews

A proposal to create a $2.2 billion power transmission line to bring wind and hydroelectric power from Quebec to Astoria is pitting environmentalists and against each another and creating some unusual alliances. The Champlain Hudson Power Express project would bring up to 1,000 megawatts of Canadian power into the city through a roughly 333-mile underground, and at times underwater, cable. Read More: Daily News

Judge clears crane magnate James Lomma of manslaughter in deaths

Manhattan crane czar James Lomma was acquitted Thursday of the deaths of two hardhats who were killed when one of his giant machines collapsed on them. Lomma, who was charged with manslaughter in the deadly May 2008 accident at an E. 91st St. construction site, sat stoically as Judge Daniel Conviser handed down his verdict in Manhattan Supreme Court. Lomma faced up to 15 years in prison for the deaths of Donald Leo, 30, and Ramadan Kurtaj, 27. The two were killed when the crane cab plunged 200 feet down into the street. Read More: Daily News

Knicks’ Lin beats Lakers’ Bryant in NBA jersey sales

Jeremy Lin outsold Kobe Bryant in official jersey sales over the past year, the NBA revealed Thursday, despite the Knicks phenom only emerging to prominence in February. Fans rushed to get the former undrafted D-Leaguer’s name on their back at an unprecedented rate when “Linsanity” took hold little more than two months ago as his breakthrough performances captured global attention. The mass demand meant only Bulls guard Derrick Rose sold more jerseys than Lin last year. It is the first time the Chicago star, who was boosted by last season’s MVP title, has topped the annual list. Read More: New York Post

Camera catches prostitute accused of stealing $500K worth of diamonds

This is the savvy prostitute who allegedly swiped half a million dollars worth of uncut diamonds from a hapless gem trader — caught on surveillance video as she made her barefoot getaway from a Manhattan hotel, police say. Erika Cooper, 34 — a k a Bianca Williams — is now the target of an NYPD manhunt for allegedly pulling off the April 17 heist at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, where she waited until her john Kurt Kaiser fell asleep before she fled with his loot. Her big mistake was giving Kaiser her real phone number, which cops have used to identify her and dig up mug shots from an earlier prostitution bust, a police source said. Read More: New York Post

A self-appointed vigilante at a Queens apartment building was arrested after he choked and beat into a concussion a fellow tenant he did not recognize him as a resident, The Post has learned. Yong Hung Wang, 36, of 35-06 Leavett St., in Flushing, mistook victim John Derounian, 37, for a burglar after Derounian returned to their building Wednesday morning to get his front door key and cell phone, which he had left behind. Read and Watch the Video: New York Post

A man charged with murdering his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son last month is now being accused by another girlfriend of killing her infant daughter in 2010. Tyree Wright, 19, was not charged in the 2010 death of 7-month-old Nyla Nickens. The infant’s mother, Nyemah Nickens, now 21, claims she was wrongly charged with killing her own child only after confessing under duress to shaking Nyla. Read More: Daily News

Plea deal in Queens deli slay

A Queens man pleaded guilty yesterday to a reduced charge for killing a hardworking deli owner who tried save his brother during a botched robbery. Shawn Forde, 29, admitted he gunned down 54-year-old Juan Torres, owner of the Lucky Grocery & Deli on Merrick Boulevard in Laurelton, in October 2010 as the victim was trying to protect his brother, Felix. Forde had faced 25 years to life for the murder and robbery, but copped a plea to first-degree manslaughter and will be sentenced to 15 years in prison on May 1. Read More: New York Post

Three Rescued From Capsized Tugboat Near Liberty Island

Three people were rescued this morning after a boat capsized just off Liberty Island. The U.S. Coast Guard says the small tugboat overturned and sent three people into the water around 9:45 a.m. All three were rescued by police but officials have not released their conditions. At least one person was taken to a medical facility in New Jersey. The cause of the accident is still unclear. The Coast Guard says a salvage operation will be done commercially once it approves a plan. Read More: NY1

Mets call up Nieuwenhuis to replace injured Torres

Kirk Nieuwenhuis has gotten the call to replace injured Andres Torres as the Mets’ center fielder. The team placed Torres on the disabled list Friday, a day after he aggravated his left calf muscle in the Mets’ season opener. Torres originally strained the calf during a March 20 exhibition game. Read More: New York Post

Rig Faults Uncovered At Deadly Crane Collapse Site

Days after a deadly crane collapse on Manhattan’s West Side, officials say poor maintenance or improper handling may have led up to the tragedy. Engineers have found defects in the hoisting system of a crane that crashed down Tuesday at the construction site for the 7 line extension. The Buildings Department on Thursday said poor maintenance or improper handling of the rig may have contributed to the deadly accident. Read More: NY1